Donna Stephenson, MD

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Donna Stephenson, MD, is an attending physician and Medical Director of Specialty Care, Operations and Outreach for the Division of Neurology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Behavioral disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Autism and development disorders, Tourette syndrome
Locations: Specialty Care, Lancaster; Main Hospital; Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care

Book appointment 1-800-879-2467

Background

Donna Stephenson, MD, is an attending pediatric neurologist and Medical Director of Operations and Outreach for the Division of Neurology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

As a general neurologist, Dr. Stephenson sees children with all neurologic conditions. She views child development as “a complex and wonderful process,” and her priority is to begin intervention as early as possible to keep her patients’ development and health on track.

“Every child and family deserves to have the best quality medical care and open relationship with their provider. This is what we strive for at CHOP,” Dr. Stephenson says.

Along with her work at CHOP, Dr. Stephenson is an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Advances in our understanding of the brain and breakthroughs in treatment make this an exciting time to be caring for children with neurological disorders, she says.

“There are so many diseases in which our understanding and treatments are rocketing forward,” Dr. Stephenson says. “I love to be able to offer new and effective treatments for our patients.”

Education and Training

Medical School

MD - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Internship

Pediatrics - University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Residency

Pediatrics - University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Neurology and Child Neurology - Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD

 

Board Certification

Child Neurology – American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Headache Medicine – National Headache Foundation

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Physician

Medical Director, Operations and Outreach

Medical Director, Specialty Care

Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2018

Vernau BT, Stephenson DJ. Delayed Onset Abducens Palsy in a Concussed Child. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2018 Jan;17(1):20-22. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000442. No abstract available.

2015

Gofshteyn JS, Stephenson DJ. Diagnosis and Management of Childhood Headache. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2016 Feb;46(2):36-51. doi: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2015.11.003. Epub 2015 Dec 29. Review. 

Books

Chapters

2017

Stephenson, D. J. and Hall, A.L: An Integrative Approach to Pediatric Headache Management: Nutraceuticals. Current Pediatrics Reports. Stephenson, D. J.  (eds.). Springerlink, 5(2): 77-85, June 2017.

2015

Donna J. Stephenson: Chapter 49 - How do I diagnose tics and how do I treat them? When is it considered Tourette Syndrome? Curbside Consult in Pediatric Neurology:  49 Clinical Questions. Licht, D and Ryan, N (eds.). SLACK Incorporated, 2015.

Donna J. Stephenson: Chapter 13 - What is a Breath Holding Spell? Can it be treated? Curbside Consults in Pediatric Neurology: 49 Clinical Questions. Licht, D and Ryan N (eds.). SLACK Incorporated, 2015.

2005

Stephenson, D.J.: Migraine Prevention. Treatment of Pediatric Neurologic Disorders. Singer, H. et. al.  (eds.). Taylor and Francis, Page: 225-228, 2005.

2002

Stephenson, D.J. and Singer, H.: Tourette Syndrome. Diseases of the Nervous System: Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutic Principles (3rd edition). Asbury, A, et. al.  (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Page: 551-567, 2002.

Awards and Honors

2022, Main Line Today Top Docs, Neurology
2017, 2022, Philadelphia Magazine's Top Doctors in Child Neurology
2015, Award for Resident Teaching, University of Pennsylvania Department of Neurology
2015, Top Doctor, Mainline Today

Editorial and Academic Positions

Academic and institutional committees

2015-present, Executive Committee for Division of Neurology
2015-present, Section Head of Community Neurology
Clinical Affairs Committee
Ambulatory Network Safety Committee
Referring Physician Advisory Committee
Clinical Outcomes and Improvement Committee
Clinical Care Committee
Specialty Care Medical Council
Specialty Care Operations Committee

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

Child Neurology Society